Road to Kentucky Derby 2013 | East Region: Pursuit of dream continues for John Oxley

Jan. 26, 2013

John Oxley, with wife Debby, hoists the Derby trophy in 2001.

Owner John Oxley won the Kentucky Derby the second year he had a starter, with the John Ward-trained Monarchos in 2001. He did not compete again in the race until last year, when Tampa Bay Derby winner Prospective finished 18th.

But to the Tulsa oilman, the overarching objective is being in the hunt.

Oxley had cut way back on his yearling and 2-year-old purchases, though he remained very active on the breeding end, until hooking up with trainer Mark Casse a few years ago.

Their early success led to renewed vigor in the sales ring, including spending $290,000 at Keeneland’s yearling sale for Kentucky Jockey Club winner Uncaptured, one of the favorites for the Derby off his 6-for-7 record last year.

Uncaptured — who was kept out of the Breeders’ Cup after his lone defeat and instead won Churchill’s Iroquois — was part of a season that saw Oxley and Casse team to win 25 percent of their races (52 for 206) and finish in the top three at a 58 percent clip.

Oxley also owns the 1-2 finishers of Tampa Bay Downs’ Pasco in Dynamic Sky and his homebred Sky Commander, as well as the intriguing Northern Lion, Sky Captain and Star Contender.

“The Derby is a little bit of a distant memory, but still a vivid memory,” Oxley said with a laugh. “It’s a marvelous pursuit, the Derby. It’s the best chapter in racing. You have the 2-year-olds and dream of what they might become. It’s an exciting time, so many great races during that period.”

Uncaptured’s schedule was hampered by a bruised foot following the Kentucky Jockey Club. Casse says he’s doing well and is targeting Keeneland’s Toyota Blue Grass, with Turfway’s March 23 Rushaway the likely steppingstone. Dynamic Sky is targeted for the Feb. 2 Sam Davis at Tampa.

Oxley says he’s never seen such a hard worker or anybody with Casse’s eye for picking out yearlings and 2-year-olds at auction.

“I think he dreams thoroughbreds when he has time to sleep,” Oxley said.

It’s been a dream sporting year so far for Oxley, who has become a big University of Louisville fan through his wife, Debby, who grew up in Shively and received master’s degree from U of L.